
Diversify Your Income with Agriforest






10 October 2019
Founded in 2016, Agriforest are a timber harvesting and forest management company who specialise in small medium sized woodlands, most of which entail working on farms or country estates.
Most larger operators tend to stick to large scale work, whereas Agriforest are able to harvest and market timber from rough and inaccessible terrain on a smaller scale making them the perfect solution to your forestry management needs. They provide a bespoke, personal service from start to finish and one point of contact throughout experience behind him having any work.
The aim of the company is to facilitate the potential return on investment from privately owned woodlands. Many farmers or estate owners are not aware of the benefits of the timely harvesting of timber. Agriforest believes that many land owners can diversify their income stream by proactively managing the assets they have.
'Small but mighty'
Company owner and director, Douglas Mathison, has years of
spent his entire career in forestry. Douglas initially started out as a tree surgeon before deciding to study rural business management at the Scottish Agricultural College, which led him to a role working for large national timber harvesting firm, Euroforest Ltd.
While working as a manager for Euroforest, Douglas noticed a gap in the market-small-medium sized woodlands were quite often not being managed at all. This led to the creation of Agriforest, which has successfully managed to fill the gap for this niche.
Agriforest may be a small business but Douglas has drawn from his breadth of experience to ensure they are a multifaceted organisation. Offering services in timber harvesting and thinning, forest management (including preparation and submission of felling licences and management plans), and ground preparation with subsequent planting.
Often larger companies are not interested in smaller scale work, meaning areas of land have been left under managed and long neglected. Agriforest are the company breathing life back into these woodlands. The company are able to facilitate the potential return on investment from privately owned woodlands. Forestry is a hugely efficient way to diversify income streams - even the poorest quality timber still has a market, and therefore a value.
A complete service
Agriforest are unique as they have no upfront charges for their work. No retaining fee is charged (as with some larger companies), a percentage margin is charged for work carried out on behalf of the owner, which is all done 'open book'. In addition to this, they have no ties to any specific buyers and therefore maintain the flexibility to distribute their timber across a variety of different markets. This tailored, flexible approach aims to achieve the best financial return possible.
All the gear...
By investing in specific equipment for challenging sites, Agriforest can manage small scale, difficult sites with ease and keep all work 'in house'. A recent example of investment in the business was the purchase of a brand new 16 tonne Doosan forestry excavator, to be used for ground preparation along with general drainage work, and the installation of forest roads. This enables the company to ensure contracts are completed on time, and on budget as they have full control over the entire service from start to finish. They pride themselves in their ability to adapt their skills to suit any client's needs, meaning no job is too difficult or awkward. Whether working on large scale mechanised harvesting of commercial forest blocks or small farm shelter belts they all have the same goal - to provide a complete service and an attractive return for landowners.
... and all the ideas!
A recent example involved the felling of six hectares of commercial woodland in Dumfries and Galloway. The owners were aware that the woodlands were mature, with some trees starting to blow down. Agriforest were asked to undertake the felling, ground preparation, drainage, and re- planting of the felled areas. In addition, the company were also tasked with drafting plans for areas of new planting nearby - an old farm land which was no longer used for grazing. In short, the owners will soon have the existing woodland areas back into management, along with a very attractive return for the timber sold. Furthermore, a long- term plan is now in place for the planting of new woodland which will enhance the property both visually and financially.
To date they have harvested, hauled and marketed over 52,000 tonnes of timber. When divided by the number of sites, this gives an average of 1680 tonnes per site which helps to give an example of the scale Agriforest are working to.
Combating climate change too!
Forestry plays a significant role in combating climate change. Good management can simultaneously reduce CO2 emissions whilst producing a truly sustainable resource- timber.
Forest management is vital to meeting Scottish climate change goals. Unlike deforestation, the process ensures ecosystems thrive. Proper management of our woodlands helps to promote biodiversity through the planting of a wider range of species.
Douglas Mathison believes no piece of land is too small to be managed or planted with trees as 'all these corners of fields or rough areas of ground totalling a few acres a piece, would add up to quite a significant amount when combined and this would potentially add on hundreds of hectares a year across the country."
In the long term, this offers further alternative methods for diversifying your income stream.
It may be that you are able to sell off carbon credits to major firms. However, timber is now being used to create fuel, pallets, fencing or in construction. This only increases the demand for timber and with Agriforest's connections and market fluidity they will find ways to ensure your timber is gaining return no matter what the quality.
Agriforest's vital services guarantee the mutual prosperity of land and landowners.
Onwards and upwards
Agriforest are growing from strength to strength and with the majority of work coming from word of mouth it is unsurprising given that their service is second to none. With ambitious plans to grow the business further, the company is set to make its mark on the industry and to become a real alternative to the existing national forest management firms.

